Q) Consider a one-dimensional bar of unit length

(L = 1)
and unit axial stiffness (EA = 1). It is fixed at one
end
and a unit load is acting on the other end. No
other
forces are acting. Solve this
problem using the approximate solution methods
assuming that the basis functions are ,
(1) polynomial (i = x^i) and
ix
2l

(2)sinusoidal (i = sin

).

Sol.

P
x
L

Given,
Length of the bar ,L=1
Cross section area of the bar, A
Youngs modulus of the bar, E
Rigidity of the bar ,EA=1
Load acting on the free end, P=1

Boundary condition,
At fixed support, displacement,

ie., @ x=0, u=0.

Analytical method for finding displacement(in terms of

x)
The displacement of the bar can be written as,
=

P dx
EA

= dx

= x.

Methodology followed in writing matlab code:

The potential for the above problem can be written as,

) dxPu
12 EA( du
dx
u

x=L

Now for static equilibrium,

=0
du du
dxPu
dx

EA dx

x=L

=0

Now approximating the above equation with Rayleigh ritz

method in
which ,
Displacement, u =

ai i

u =

aj j

Where,
i
= basis functions,

ai

= constants

Now potential equation can be written as,

a a
i
j

di d j
dx
dx dx

a
i

The above expression can be written in tensor form,

aj kij = fi
from this we are going to find the constants a i,
from which we can find the displacements(u) with increments
of x.
Graphs comparing analytical and matlab code solutions:
When basis function is

= xi .

When basis function is

ix
= sin( 2 L )